Chapter 173: Isabella’s Disbelief
Chapter 173: Isabella’s Disbelief
(God’s POV)
Isabella Blackwood’s face flushed red with indignation as she faced Elena’s calm response. Her voice rose
sharply, cutting through the evening air.
“Who admitted anything? I’m just standing up for my cousin!”
She gestured dramatically at Elena’s elegant dress. “You’re disgusted with Marcus’s poor health now,
dressing up like a flower to find your next mate.”
Her tone grew more venomous. “Elena, you’re really opportunistic enough!”
Elena took another sip of her moonlight wine, her expression remaining perfectly composed. The liquid
tasted bitter on her tongue, but her voice stayed steady.
“When I hadn’t mentioned severing our mate bond before, you desperately wanted me to divorce Marcus.”
She paused, letting her words sink in. “But now that I’m proposing to sever the bond, I’m called
opportunistic?”
Elena’s green eyes fixed on Isabella with cold determination. “Say whatever you want to say tonight, Isabella.”
Her voice dropped to a warning whisper. “There won’t be another chance after this evening.”
Isabella’s gaze swept across the crowd until she spotted Sandy Parker cowering behind a group of guests. A malicious smile spread across her face as she found a new target.
Despite Sandy supposedly being the Whitmore family’s daughter, she was hiding pathetically in the shadows. Isabella pushed past Elena roughly, her pink gown rustling with each determined step.
“How can someone like this woman be allowed to freeload at what’s supposedly her own welcoming
banquet?” Isabella’s voice carried across the courtyard, drawing every guest’s attention.
She pointed directly at Sandy, who shrank further into the crowd. “Look at her! Cowering like a frightened.
pup!”
The guests began murmuring among themselves, their voices creating a buzz of confusion and doubt.
“That timid woman is the Whitmore family’s daughter?”
“She looks nothing like Dorothea Whitmore.”
“Where’s her breeding? Her composure?”
Sandy’s face turned deathly pale as dozens of eyes focused on her. Her original plan had been simple – wait quietly until the banquet began, then let Elena embarrass herself publicly.
She would step in as the righteous hero, gaining favor and securing her position in the Whitmore family. Now Isabella had ruined everything by drawing unwanted attention to her.
Isabella forcefully grabbed Sandy’s arm, pulling her from the crowd. “Respond! Defend yourself!”
Sandy glanced desperately at Elena, hoping for help or guidance. But Elena’s expression remained neutral,
offering no assistance.
“I’m not…” Sandy stammered weakly, her voice barely audible.
Isabella noticed Sandy looking to Elena for direction. Her rage intensified at this obvious deference.
“Why would a supposed Whitmore family daughter defer to anyone?” Isabella demanded, shaking Sandy’s
arm.
At that crucial moment, Adrian Whitmore entered the courtyard with Hugo Ashworth at his side. Samuel Whitmore followed closely behind them, his expression grave.
Isabella’s attention was momentarily diverted when she recognized Hugo. This was the man she had previously seen with Elena, whom she had assumed was Elena’s lover.
However, her shock deepened when Adrian calmly stepped forward. His voice cut through the crowd’s
murmurs with quiet authority.
“Miss Blackwood, she is not my sister. You don’t need to go to such lengths to persuade her.”
Isabella’s mouth fell open in confusion. “What do you mean she’s not the Whitmore family daughter?”
Sandy could only lower her head in shame, tears welling in her eyes. The weight of her deception pressed
down on her shoulders.
Samuel stepped forward, his dignified presence commanding immediate attention from every guest.
There has been a mistake,” he announced clearly. “We misidentified the person. Sandy is not my daughter.”
The revelation sent shockwaves through the gathering. Gasps and exclamations rippled through the crowd
like wildfire.
Someone called out from the back, “Then who is the real Whitmore family daughter?”
Samuel walked directly to Elena’s side, his chest swelling with unmistakable pride. He placed a protective
hand on her shoulder.
“She is my daughter,” he declared with ringing authority. “Samuel Whitmore’s daughter.”
The crowd erupted in amazement, voices overlapping in excited discussion.
“This makes much more sense!”
“Look at her temperament – so refined!”
“Her appearance is far superior to that other woman!”
In the back of the crowd, a masked man stood silently by a high table. His slender fingers slowly caressed his wine glass, the movement deliberate and controlled.
Though he appeared indifferent to the surrounding drama, his ears were focused solely on news about one particular person. While everyone else expressed surprise at learning Elena’s true identity, only he remained
composed.
He slowly sipped his wine without betraying any emotion, his mask concealing whatever thoughts crossed
his mind.
Isabella was more shocked than anyone else in the room. Her voice trembled as she stammered in complete
disbelief.
“How is this possible… she’s clearly the Whitmore family’s daughter…”
The words came out broken, her usual confidence completely shattered by this unexpected revelation.
Adrian stepped forward without giving her any face, his protective instincts fully engaged. His voice carried the authority of someone defending his family.
“Regardless of whose daughter Elena was, it didn’t give the Blackwood family the right to bully her.”
He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing with growing intensity.
“The suffering and grievances Elena has endured over the years were half due to the Blackwood family’s
treatment.”
His eyes fixed on Isabella with cold determination. “Now that she’s the Whitmore family’s precious daughter,
what do you have to say about the situation?”
Adrian’s words completely stripped away any remaining dignity from the Blackwood family’s position.
